Gyantse

Gyantse | 江孜县

Gyantse means “Victory Peak” in Tibetan language, the third largest city in Tibet, lies in southern Tibet about 100 kilometers east of Shigartse along the upper corner of the Nian-chu River, with an area of 3,771 square kilometers. Its altitude is 3,980 meters. It is hot and rainy in the summer, which makes this area the main Barley planting region of Tibet.

The only Buddha Tower in Tibet stands to the right of the Pelkhor Monastery which was built in 1427. The tower is over 30 meters high and there are more than 10,000 Buddha figures in 77 rooms which gives is why people refer to it as the hundred-thousand Buddha Tower. It was built in the style of a 108-sided mandala by craftsmen from the Kathmandu Valley. It is the finest example of 15th century Newar art extant in the world.

The Dzong (City fort) that towers above the village offers a great view over the valley. The road from here to Lhasa (360 km) takes you over three mountain passes: Sima La (4,380 meters), Karo La (5,045 meters) and Gampa La (4,794 meters). Here, “La” means the pass of mountain in Tibetan Language. The well-paved road passes around the Yamdrok Lake before reaching up the top of Gampa La from which there’s a fantastic panorama view of Yamdrok on one side and the Yarlung Tsangpo river on the other.